Even Author Should Be Street Smart

Street Smart

May 12, 2003|By STEPHANIE HEINATZ Daily Press

Every week, I rewrite the Virginia Department of Transportation lane-closure report for this column. And yet, late Thursday -- while traveling from Norfolk to York County on Interstate 64 -- I sat in traffic for hours because I didn't avoid the areas that the report advised. Exercise street smarts. Keep a copy of this column in your car. Learn my lesson.

INTERSTATE 64

(1) Watch for alternating westbound-lane closures between the Fort Eustis and Camp Perry exits on Interstate 64 weekdays from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and from 10 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday, for road repairs.

(2) Watch for westbound left-lane closures from the Hampton Creek Bridge to the Interstate 664 interchange from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays for drain cleaning.

(3) Closure of the month: The exit ramp from I-64 west to Armistead and LaSalle avenues will be closed to all traffic through early June for reconstruction. Drivers should use either the first Mercury Boulevard exit or the second Armistead exit and follow the detour signs.

INTERSTATE 664

(4) Watch for a double right-lane closure northbound between Roanoke Avenue and 35th Street from 9 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday. A full 15-minute traffic stop will take place sometime during the closure to install an overhead street sign.

NEWPORT NEWS

(5) Watch for alternating lane closures in both directions on the West Mercury Boulevard bridge over the CSX tracks weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to replace failed expansion joints.

HAMPTON

(6) Armistead Avenue: Be aware of a change in traffic pattern along Armistead from LaSalle Avenue to Freeman Drive daily between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. All eastbound traffic is reduced to one lane for roadwork. Westbound traffic is not affected.

(7) West Mercury Boulevard ramp: Be aware of a change in traffic pattern on West Mercury near I-64. There's a new ramp from I-64 east to West Mercury. Traffic traveling in both directions on West Mercury now use the same ramp, and a traffic signal directs drivers.

YORK COUNTY

(8) Dare Road: Watch for alternating lane closures in both directions between Dare Elementary School and Route 17 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays for roadwork.

(not shown) Route 60: Watch for lane closures in both directions near Williamsburg Pottery from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today through Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, for road improvements.

(not shown) Route 5: Watch for alternating lane closures in both directions between Chickahominy Bridge and Jamestown High School weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for roadwork.